Who We Are

Today Peter Morril from Idaho Public Television came before JFAC to present his budget. Peter is a tall man whose voice I'm sure you'd know: gentle, warm, phenomenally reassuring. Everything will be fine. Everything will be fine.

Yet Morrel had to set out before us the 33% reduction in funding that the Governor has directed. He was gracious and clear in the face of Otter's proposal to, over 4 years, phase out all funding for Public Television.

He gently reminded us that, no, Public Television with its public funding, can not just start selling commercial advertisements like any TV station to make up the $1.6 Million dollars in lost funds. And will a few more weeks of telethons in this economic environment make up the funds? No.

Do we forget, if we don't ponder the question, that Idaho Public Television is the only Idaho owned TV station in the state? Might it have been awhile since we watched the award winning programs exploring our own Idaho history, our heroes, our unique issues, this place with its canyons, deserts, forests, farms and mountains — everything that is so uniquely us as Idahoans.

Listening to Peter Morrill today I felt odd pride for the station that is in essence our voice. It is indeed as Peter said, one of the few things we have in common as a state. Public Television is of by and for us as a people. What state would give that up?

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2 thoughts on “Who We Are”

Michael B Lish
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January 28, 2010

Peter is a pioneer a great broadcaster(with a wonderful calming voice) who in thick and thin (budgets)has helped make public broadcasting in Idaho… something very special.. we all owe Peter
a big thank you for his service
Michael B. Lish
Idaho Falls ,now retired fellow Idaho radio broadcaster
KLCE,KACH,KBLI,KID,KRXK etc. also TV work ,various duties at KIFI

Howard
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January 29, 2010

I hate to be repetitive, but this is another case where legislators should look at GASB white papers – the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) declares that “Governments are fundamentally different from for-profit business enterprises…”http://www.gasb.org/white_paper_mar_2006.html
GASB says that “The purpose of government is to enhance or maintain the well-being of citizens by providing public services in accordance with public policy goals. Surely IPTV is such a service.
GASB is the group that sets state government account standards. I’m pretty sure all State of Idaho fiscal officers follow those standards and it’s how they use and maintain their monies.